Development and ultrastructure of Besnoitia oryctofelisi tachyzoites, tissue cysts, bradyzoites, schizonts and merozoites

Abstract

Development and structure of different life cycle stages of Besnoitia oryctofelisi which has a rabbit–cat life cycle was studied by light and transmission electron microscopy. For light microscopy, Besnoitia oryctofelisi-infected tissues were stained with haematoxylin–eosin, periodic acid Schiff (PAS) reagent, and immunohistochemically with rabbit anti- B. oryctofelisi polyclonal antibodies and anti-BAG-1 antibodies. In vitro and in vivo-derived tachyzoites were 5–6 μm long and they were found to divide by endodyogeny. In tachyzoites, the nucleus was often central, and micronemes were few and located anterior to the nucleus. Earliest tissue cysts were seen in gerbils starting 12 days p.i. Early tissue cysts had an outer PAS-positive cyst wall, a middle PAS-negative host cell layer, and an inner PAS-negative parasitophorous vacuolar membrane. Organisms in early tissue cysts were PAS-negative, did not stain with anti-BAG-1 antibodies, and amylopectin granules and enigmatic bodies were absent. Tissue cysts beginning 17 days p.i. contained organisms that became PAS-positive and reacted with anti-BAG-1 antibodies, indicating they were bradyzoites. Immunoreactivity with polyclonal anti- B. oryctofelisi antibodies suggested that Besnoitia species bradyzoites are encapsulated by the host cell. Bradyzoites (10 μm) were about twice the length of tachyzoites and contained enigmatic bodies characteristic of Besnoitia bradyzoites. Unlike tachyzoites and tissue cysts, schizonts were located intravascularly in the lamina propria of the small intestine of cats. Merozoites were 5–6 μm long, had few rhoptries and amylopectin granules, had numerous micronemes and had a terminal nucleus.